sundeeman



(No Model.)

J. H. SUN-DERMA'N.

TOP. I No. 282,129. 2 y Patented July 31, 1883.

WITNESSES INVEJVZ'OR Attorneys NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

. JOHN H. sUNDnaMAN, or QUINCY, ILLINOIS.

TO P.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 282,129, dated July 31, 1883.

Application filed March 31, 1883. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OHN H. SUNDERMAN,

a citizen of the United States, residing at ings.

This invention relates to that class of spinning-tops which are provided with means for exploding a percussioncap when thrown foreibly upon the ground in the act of spinning; and it consists in the improved construction, to be hereinafter described, of the said tops, whereby they are provided with stationary and permanent points upon which they may be spun, the explosion. of the cap being effected by the concussion of aplate or head sliding 1 upon a stem or shank at the upper end of the body of the top, with a plate seated in an an nular recess in the top-body, as will be hereinaftermore fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings hereto annexed, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a top equipped with my improvements, and Fig. 2 is avertical sectional view of the same.

The same letters refer to the same parts in both figures.

Ain the drawings represents the body of the top, which is of the ordinary wellknown shape and general construction, and provided at its lower end with a permanent spinning-point, I. The upper end of the body A has a shallow circular recess, 13, in which is seated a plate, 0, having a central perforation, D, through which a stem, E, projects upwardly, as shown. with a head, F, at its upper end, may be an ordinary woodscrew screwed into the upper end of the top.

G is a cap, which may be cast or otherwise formed of any suitable metal. Said cap is provided with a vertical perforation, H, and it has in its upper. side a recess, 1, surrounding the said perforation. The upper edge of the said cap is also provided with an annular milled rim or flange, J, by which it may be readily manipulated, as will be hereinafter described. The cap G is connected to the body of the top The said stem E, which is. provided by means of the screw or stem E, the head of which fits in the recess I.

K is a rubber spring or cushion placed n the recess I, under the head F of the screw or stem E, thereby serving to force the cap G in a downward direction against the plate 0. The spring or cnshionK may consist of a small piece of ordinary rubber tubing; or an ordinary small coiled spring may be used in lieu thereof without departing from the spirit of my invention. It will be seen that by tightening the screw E the tension of the spring K may be regulated, and the cap Gmay be forced down against the plate 0 with any desired degree of force.

The operation of my invention will be readily understood from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings hereto annexed. By pulling the cap G out against the tension of the spring, an ordinary paper cap may be interposed between the said cap G and the plate 0, where it is held by the tension of the spring. In the act of being spun the top is thrown upon the floor with considerable violence, and the cap is thus exploded by the concussion of the plate C and cap G.

I am aware of the patent to Beneke, No. 262,354, August 8, 1882, and I claim. nothing therein shown.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States 1. The combination, with a spinning-top, of a plate seated in a shallow recess in its upper end, an upwardly-projecting stem having a head, andametal cap held by and sliding upon the said stem, as set forth.

2. The combination, with a spinning-top, of a plate at the upper end of the same, an upwardly-projecting stem having a head at its upper end, a cap sliding upon the said stem, and a spring interposed between the head of the latter and said cap, as set forth.

3. The combination of a spinning-top, a plate at the upper end of the same, an upwardly projecting headed stem, acap sliding uponthe said stem and having arecess in its upper side and a milled flange at its upper edge, and a spring interposed between said cap and the head of the stem, as set forth.

4. The combination of a spinning-top, a perforated plate at the upper end of the same, va ownIhave hereto affixed my signature in presheaded screw extending through said plate, a enee of two witnesses. cap sliding upon the stem of said screw and a spring interposed between the head of the serew and said cap, wherebythe tension of said spring may be regulated by tightening said screw, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony thatI claim the foregoing as my JOHN H. SUNDERMAN.

Witnesses:

XVILLIAM H. GoVERT, XVM. G. FERGENSPUN. 

